goFASTER>> soundtrack Hollyoak’s The Morning After the Night Before

Mentioned last week that goFASTER>> are now darlings of screen as well as stage, but I didn’t realise that they’re basically running the new Hollyoaks spin-off ‘The Morning After the Night Before’ (below)… and as Rich put it, ‘basically they’ve used the whole modern education EP to soundtrack the series!!’

Goodtimes is the theme tune, which is particularly ace – and the band themselves feature really heavily in a couple of the episodes… Their handsome faces shimmering on student union stages from beginning to end.

Apart from the fact they failed to get anyone from Alcopop a cameo (poor form boys) it’s all good – Josh (aka Sonny Flood) from the show says in an interview with lastbroadcast.co.uk “There’s lots of live gigs, Josh has a bit of a run in with a roadie. There are actual bands – Go Faster are very good, they’re a local Liverpool band, I think they have an EP, they’re definitely worth checking out.”

I concur Josh… I concur. Indeed it’s available in the Alcopop shop, or on iTunes next time you’re browsing. The only question now remains as to which member of goFASTER>> will be stripping off for the 2010 ‘Hollyoaks Hunks’ calendar. My money’s on Murphy!

goFASTER>> kick out the Flammable Leisurewear jams in Hollyoaks

Bad acting galore may have ensued around them, but the consummate goFASTER>> were, as ever, the height of rock n’ roll professionalism as they smashed the hell out of the students union in Hollyoaks last week – opening, as I’m reliably informed, for a band who ‘sounded like CSS’.

Playing their first single released on Alcopop ‘Flammable Leisurewear’ – the episode was aired on the 1st July, and goes further to ensuring their scouse legendary status. I especially like the line ‘how’s your crotch’…

If you’re reading this today, or in the next few days you can watch the epic appearance over on 4OD around 5 minutes through the July 1st episode, but if you’re years into the future looking back – wondering where number 1 pop sensations goFASTER>> came from , then I’ve taken a really poorly rendered video of the appearance for your delectation and delight…

Enjoy -

Who’s that band you work with… The ones with the shellsuit sleeve?

They’ve received a whole heap o’ plaudits have goFASTER>>, just recently Folly of Youth suggesting “the youthfulness of the band just leaps out of the speakers”. High Voltage add the caveat that “for all the hectic, elastic guitar-keyboard interplay and Haribo melodies, there seems to be a slightly more furrowed brow on the group this time around – as though they’ve moved on from songs about melting shellsuits and orange-skinned sunbed-dwellers to the weightier issues affecting the nation”.

But my goodness, they’ve no doubt ever heard anything quite as special as being reffed by magnificent legend Andrew WK! Yes indeed, the man is a partying hard super-boom legend, and was clearly quite taken with the boys from Liverpool.

Hooking up with our Kev on his recent sojourn loving New York City, oh yeah – New York City… Andrew himself was heard to remark “who are those guys you work with… You know, them with the shellsuit sleeves” – oh yes! It’s goFASTER>> who have obviously come to the attention of Andrew himself via their ‘Flammable Leisurewear’ single. Awesome stuff! I’m going to send him a copy of the EP and see if it’ll fulfill his incredibly high standards of partying hard…. I think it will!

goFASTER>> EP making the summer start early…!

Now currently landing on digital music platforms galore, on the shiny shelves of your favourite indie store – and of course fresh from the Alcopop shop (with a free 4 track EP if you’re very quick… Literally we’re down to the last 10 or so of these) – goFASTER>>’s magnificent debut EP ‘A Modern Education’ is out today, and already making it feel a lot like summer in Alcopop HQ.

The tracklisting for the EP is:
1. A Modern Education
2. Magazine Addiction
3. Good Times
4. You Better Watch Out
5. When the Last Note Sounds

And I guarantee you will love it! Not Ed described the musical treat thusly as “A delectable indie pop four piece from Liverpool who make music in the same lunch-box as Good Shoes and Look See Proof. The EP also has a Hot Club De Paris aura to it, in how the songs all entwine together like they have a big shoelace tied around them” – and I think he’s just about on the nail…. Take a listen to the scouse champs here, and get yourself a piece….

Oh – and don’t forget this EP is available as part of a ‘binge’ style mega-deal package with the My First Tooth EP and one of our rapidly dwindling red white crocodile on skateboard tees too… Ace! Get yourself truly alcopopped

goFASTER>> Alter the Press and My First Tooth impress the devil’s Tuna

It’s really gratifying when those knowledgeable souls out there in the great wide blogosphere take some of the Alcopop family to heart, and a couple of superb posts have been brought to my attention over the last couple of days which have brought a spark of delight to my otherwise grimly ‘not at SXSW’ soul…

Firstly a review of goFASTER>>s new EP A Modern Education from Alter the Press, who rated the record 4 out of 5, but also this feature on My First Tooth from the Devil Has the Best Tuna – who correctly pointed out the fresh new scene burgeoning from within the sleepy county of Northamptonshire (pictured courtesy of Taz etc).

The former said of the scouse posters that “goFaster>> are definitely on to a good thing. These 5 tracks shows they are a band that enjoy what they do and have so much energy whilst doing it. They certainly have the art of indie pop-punk done precisely as it should be. Don’t be surprised if goFaster>> go places in the future…” While the Devil was definitely into a bit of Ross and that’s the Tooth! (sorry, sorry)..

“My First Tooth craft subtle, beautiful lullabies that locate your heart strings and tug at them gently like a folkie strumming a guitar. You can have your heart melted to a pool of slush later this month when the band’s debut EP is issued via Alcopop Records.”

Awesome… And if any muso blogger types read this and fancy a piece of the Alcopop action – gis a yell and we’ll have a chat.. Handsome!

A* grade goFASTER>> artwork

It’s been a quiet day in Alcopop HQ today, before the storm no doubt, but while others amongst the industry have no doubt been a-beavering away on all sorts of musical related business, I’ve been listening to Cornershop (Lessons learned from Rocky I to Rocky III is no doubt quite the tune), wondering how I can make dishing out free MP3s sexy again (I thing I’ve got it you know) all the while planning a storming set for my DJ set at The Purple Turtle tonight in Oxford.

One exciting piece of Monday news however is that the finished artwork for goFASTERs upcoming EP, A Modern Education, has arrived courtesy of the talented Paul from Hot Club de Paris – and I think it looks rather nice. Litre upon litre of blackboard paint, and no doubt several packets of chalk down – he’s gone for that schoolyard charm, leaving me itching for a retro episode of Grange Hill (did anyone else used to watch that with their mum ). And here it is…. I hope you like!

Oh and incidentally, former Alcopop favourites (and now signed to the pretty damn ace Fear and Records) data.select.party are playing a FREE show at The Old Blue Last in London town tonight. If you’re around you should definitely go! The new album no doubt sounds awesome – and if you have an extra three sheets to spare on top of that, there are a few copies of their debut single limited to 500  (somehow) still available from the shop. Go figure…

goFASTER>> UK tour

Quite frankly you’d be mad to miss it! Now I know the EP isn’t out for a few weeks, but diaries fill up quickly in the ‘fuck-it-all, lets go crazy and dance every night cos’ if we’re not partying we may as well be dead’ climate of 2009 – so you better pick your closest gig locale and get ready to slam some indie shapes.

22 Feb – Norwich UEA w/ the Wombats

5 Mar – Kidderminster iDle Hands @ The Tap House

12 Mar – Oxford Jericho Tavern w/Arrows of Love (Ex Hush the Many)

13 Mar – Chester Telford’s Warehouse

14 Mar – Liverpool Barfly

16 Mar – Newcastle The End Bar

21 Mar – Lancaster TBC

28 Mar – Manchester Dry Bar w / the Jump Off

Look what you might miss out on if you don’t…!

NEW goFASTER>> EP to be released in Alcopop: March 16th

It’s been a few months in coming, what with Alcopop taking some time out to celebrate Christmas, plan where we’re headed – and speak to some MOST exciting acts about their plans for this year… But it’s pretty much time to officially announce the very first release of ’09, and by gum it’s a good one. Ladies and gentleman, boys and scousers – it gives me a whole heap of Liverpool-based pleasure to announce that Alcopop’s first release of the year comes from Alcopop favourites (and sometime Wombat tour buddies) goFASTER>> – it’s an EP, it’s called A Modern Education – and it’s about time you sit down, tuck your shirt in, face the front and listen!

Back with two new members and their trademark pop-punk sound that have had rags across the country salivating with glee, the boys are bound to do it all again with this their debut EP – before probably heading off to some intergalactic based bastion of stardom… The signs are good, Gigwise suggesting gF>> are “the most exciting band to come out of Liverpool in the last year“, NME branding them “brilliant new wave punk” and Artrocker gushing “as long as bands are willing to experiment in this way we’ll all have a rosy future”.

So – the date to ink with genuine excitment in your diary is the 16th March… When all the new goFASTER>> discs will be dropping onto doormats across the country. Keep a keen eye on the blog though, as we’re set to be releasing a really awesome, very limited edition extra that’s only going to be available through Alcopop and the band (no HMV – not for you!) – which will no doubt have you salivating. I won’t say much more just now as we’re putting the finishing touches to our plan…. But I promise it will be awesome.

Now – to celebrate, go and listen to goFASTER>> with all your might on MySpace, or watch the video for their last single, Flammable Leisurewear (on Alcopop), below:

goFASTER>> seek a new guitarist – can you play

So I’m sure you will have heard by now… But sad news has been hanging around the goFASTER>> camp this summer like a fat kid round the leftovers, as guitarist Chris has bid a fond farewell to the band, leaving the scouse 4-piece a member short.

They have been keen to stress that it’s all happy “He is moving onto pastures new and we wish him all the best, and still remains our bestest of fwends. He plays his last gig (his testimonial) for us on 27th September at the carling academy in Liverpool so come down and give him a good send off!” – and while I can only concur with those sentiments (I miss you Chris *sobs*), this does mean an exciting opportunity is open.

Can you wield an axe, do you reside near Liverpool and are you an all-round awesome chap/ess? Well, if so, probably worth reading this blog and putting your name forward… For goFASTER>> are set to come back stronger than ever, rip-roaring into 2009, and while plans are still in motion – keep an eye on the blog for some potentially exciting happenings with the lads over the next few months.

Long live goFASTER>>!!! and er… their orange shark. Oh, and have you ever noticed how drummer Ian (pictured left) looks like all the members of Supergrass?

Download Alcopop’s new sampler for free – yes FREE!

Download it now…

If you’ve been following the blog over the last few weeks, you’ll have noticed that Alcopop are preparing for summer – not simply by splashing on the sun-tan lotion and lazily thumbing through brochures to the Maldives. Oh no, instead we’ve decided to throw all other summer plans aside and create a lusty release schedule, to blow your ears wide apart – and inject a whole new shot of musical deliciousness deep into your thorax. Sing it now….

For this is ‘AQA does not care much for Alcopop. Pimm’s is delicious’ – named after that handy (if overpriced) text service’s response to our musings on booze, and our label. Heavily endorsed by our newest pals, Alcodog and Alcocroc – anyone thinking that their eyes are deceiving them when they imagine the artwork shows Kev dressed as a beaver and me as a lobster – it is with shamed face I tell you no… You’re entirely correct. That’s actually on iTunes! *weep*

Whether you’re into the frenetic pop punk, soaring vocals and breathtaking melody of Cut the Blue Wire or lush, symphonic tones of the doe-eyed Sam Isaac – we’re convinced we’ve got something for you, and so have put together a rather tasty 6-track sampler to showcase what we have coming up in the next few months. Available on iTunes, or on handmade, limited edition CD (which features a whole heap of bonus tracks and videos from deep within the Alcopop vaults) – you can, if you like, get it free for a week – just by following the ‘sampler’ link on the menu bar above – and clicking the download button.

So follow this link to take a look at exactly what’s on it – or pop to the shop to buy a full copy with all the bonus exclusive content of videos, MP3s and old rarities that have graced many a past release. Enjoy, pass it on to your friends and spread the wealth… It is only available here free for a week though, before we have to take it down and let the corporate giants at apple have their share too.

Here’s the full tracklisting – with love from Alcopop….

1. goFASTER>> – NHS Dentist
2. Cut The Blue Wire – The Race To The King
3. Sam Isaac – A Cinematic Low
4. Pavilion – Clarity
5. This City – With Loaded Guns
6. My First Tooth – North Sea (demo)